Sentinel Playerwatch - Transfer Window Day Eight: No careless whispers at Stoke City

YOU could imagine that every evening as David Kemp packs up his lunch box in his rucksack and heads for the car park, Tony Pulis looks at him and warns, "careless talk costs lives".There is a paucity of gossip about who might be arriving at the Britannia Stadium this transfer window, despite Pulis admitting he would like to bring in a couple of players.Plenty of talk about who might be going out maybe, but coming in? There has been zilch, diddly squat, nada, zippo to feed the hungry red tops as yet.Sure, Stokies woke up this morning to Sky Sports trying to drum up interest in Gais 17-year-old striker Fredrik Jonsson returning for a second trial with the Potters.One for the future perhaps, but Loic Remy being jetted over from France to Clayton Wood by Kemp trailed by the paparazzi it is not.Such secrecy is a rare beast in Premier League circles these days but Pulis continues to keep his cards close to his chest ... meaning one dastardly rumourmonger, fed up with the lack of loose talk, will probably link City with a centre-back who can play at full-back over the next few days.Remy is back in the papers, however, with the Northern Echo suggesting Newcastle United are on the verge of signing the striker from Marseille, as well as bringing in Ajax youngster Jody Lukoki.Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp has tried to hijack the Remy move and has offered Shaun Wright-Phillips as part of his deal. "Take him out and we'll talk," the cynics might suggest will be Marseille's response.Across the North East divide, the Sunderland Echo are reporting that Martin O'Neill is close to signing "6ft 2in-tall French under-21 international ball-winning midfielder" Alfred N'Diaye for £3m from Bursaspor.In the Evening Standard, Fulham are supposedly tying up a deal for Ghana midfielder Derek Boateng from Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, Redknapp wants Swansea striker Danny Graham and Spurs are after £15m-rated Leando Damiao from Internacional, opening the door for Emmanuel Adebayor to leave.Meanwhile, Barcelona president Sandro Rosell has warned Arsenal to forget about signing David Villa and West Ham boss Sam Allardyce has had a £2m bid rejected for one-time Stoke target Martin Olsson, the Blackburn left-back.The Wigan Evening Post reports that Roberto Martinez wants one more signing to complete his January spending, having already brought in Angelo Henriquez on loan from Manchester United and Honduran international midfielder Roger Espinoza.Everton are linked with a move for Tottenham's Scott Parker in the Liverpool Echo, while it is reported Manchester United are after either Liverpool's Pepe Reina or Stoke's Asmir Begovic.West Bromwich Albion striker Shane Long has emerged as a surprise target for Lazio in the Express and Star.Down south in the Daily Echo, Southampton manager Nigel Adkins is said to be eyeing up a "£20m double raid on Italian football" to land Davide Astori and Philipe Coutinho. Centre-back Astori comes from Cagliari and Coutinho is at Inter Milan."The attacking midfielder was once being hailed as one of Brazil's hottest young talents, and has featured for the full national team," reports the Echo. One for the relegation battle then.Finally in the Reading Post, Reading are circling in on Hope Akpan, from Crawley Town. At least no one would be able to accuse them of being Hope-less any longer.

Potterrengen
It will not be long till the super Wilson returns.This will give us cover at left back again,So, if Huthie or Shawcross gets injured, or more likely suspended because of their tactile natures, Then Cameron could cover at centre back, move Wilko preferably, or Shotto to right back, and put Wilson back at left back(what a waste),but that is where TP like to play him.This seems pretty good cover to me to me,Hence my reasoning to hold out till the summer,I do have to say i like N'zobia at Villa, and we could probably get him for a song. He certainly has the talent, but i am not totally sure if he has the Pulis fire.

I'm not sdure if it can wait to have quality cover for the central. Stoke's defence was all over the place when Shawcross was supended recently, and even Huth struggled without him. We should either look to bring someone in now so they are ready when the need arises or we should start grooming someone like Ben Glasgow. Both Shawcross and Huth are likely to run into suspensions again this season, as they do concede far too many yellow cards.

When you look at the squad we have,you have to say it is the best squad we have had for donkies years.I also think we need a bit of quality cover for Huthie and shawcross,but that can wait till summer.I do not believe we are desperate for any additions in this window,as most january buys do tend to be panic buys,and we do not need panic buys.If we push up,and tackle high up the field like we did aginst Liverpool, i think we can give anyone a game. The one thing with Chelsea is they are apt at letting a goal or two in,which if TP goes positive should give us a good chance,Lets hope Pennant gets a run out. 2-1 Stoke.

We do seriously need a central defender and if he can cover at fb it wouldn't hurt. With Upson probably bowing out in the summer, we are desperately shory of cover, if the big two get injured or suspended,